Busy hands and caring hearts on Mandela Day

The hand imprints which convey the purpose of the 2018 Knit-a-thon.

Knit-a-thon held in honour of Madiba's legacy

In the weeks leading up to Mandela Day, the residents from Rand Aid-run Ron Smith Care Centre were busy making the decorations that would be used for the Mandela Day Knit-a-thon on July 18.

On that day, the residents from both Elphin Lodge and the Ron Smith Care Centre would be challenged to knit or crochet a square in 67 minutes. The decorations reflected the theme and purpose of the knit-a-thon: knitting squares to make blankets to donate to the residents at Jordan House Old Age Home. 

Jordan House is home to about 70 residents, mostly male, who are underprivileged and needy. They rely heavily on, and are extremely grateful for, donations of any kind.  Elphin Lodge resident Marlene Gordon made a request for donations to assist the residents of Jordon House, and it was then decided to use the Mandela Day Knit-a-thon for that purpose.

About 80 residents, staff and volunteers gathered together in the hall on Mandela Day and were invited to fortify themselves with tea, sandwiches and a delicious surprise of vanilla and chocolate cake donated by Avbob.

Then it was onto the business at hand: knitting as quickly as possible, in order to contribute to the blanket donation to Jordan House.  Exactly 67 minutes later, the highest number of squares and rows knitted and crocheted were tallied up.

The results were as follows:

Knitting:

1^st place:  Barbara Malan – Elphin Lodge

2^nd place:  Jean Johnson – Elphin Lodge

3^rd place:  Avril Maltman – RSCC, Matron.

Crochet:

1^st place: Denise Stewart – RSCC, Volunteer

2^nd place:  Irene Nyadzane – RSCC Careworker

3^rd place:  Aletta de Klerk – RSCC, Day Care.

The squares will be stitched together to make blankets and will be added to the blankets already completed.

A group of residents, staff and volunteers are planning to visit the residents at Jordan House and present them with the blankets, in honour of the great man, Nelson Mandela.

Ron Smith Care Centre residents proudly display the colourful Mandela Day Hands that they made in the OT Activity Centre.

Matron Avril Maltman.

The knitting supplies on each table.

Jane Hart-Davis and Irene Nyadzane (2nd prize Crochet).

Jill Jones (right) stitching squares together to make a blanket.

Shirley Blieden and Winnie Ziegler couldn’t resist doing the Madiba Jive at the knit-a-thon.

Salina Mtshali presents Barbara Malan with her prize for placing first in the knitting section of the competition.

Winnie Ziegler, Shirley Blieden, Aletta de Klerk (3rd place Crochet), Queen Ralarale and Denise Stewart (1st place Crochet).